Syria has extended humanitarian access to anti-government-controlled areas in the north-west of the country by three months. Deliveries from Turkey should be possible via the two crossings.
The Syrian government has agreed to extend the opening of two border crossings from Turkey to the rebel-held area in the northwest of the country by three months. This was explained by representatives of the United Nations and the Syrian UN Ambassador Bassam Sabbagh. The permit would have expired on Saturday.
Discussions with the UN preceded it
Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad informed UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths of the Syrian government’s decision, UN spokeswoman Eri Kaneko said. This was preceded by a corresponding request from the UN and talks.
Syrian ambassador to the UN Sabbagh tweeted that Syria wants to improve the living and humanitarian conditions of all Syrians and facilitate aid deliveries to those in need across Syria.
Border crossings open since February 6th
The two crossings in Bab al-Salameh and Bab al-Rai, which are specifically at issue, were opened for aid deliveries after the devastating earthquake on February 6th.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad approved a three-month opening a week after the quake to allow aid to reach Idlib province. Around four million people live in the province of Idlib, many of whom have already been displaced during the civil war that has been going on for twelve years.
According to the UN, the earthquake killed more than 50,000 people, more than 6,000 of them in Syria. Hundreds of thousands of people lost their homes.